Halloween is around the corner! Does the thought of another Halloween party horrify you? Millions of Americans live to be scared silly and for them October 31st marks the beginning of the holiday season: a reason to dress and act outrageously. Here is a guide to help you throw a ghoulish affair that children will remember and adults won't mind chaperoning!

Halloween Parties: How to Throw Spook-tacular Soirees & Frighteningly Festive Entertainments is a hip photograph-filled paperback, packed with recipes and crafts, and makes entertaining on All Hallow's Eve terrifyingly easy. From a frightful dinner for four to a full-out, monster-mashing Haunted Mansion, Lori Hellander concocts six parties guaranteed to make guests, adults and children alike, scream in delight.

Like a skilled carver attacking a pumpkin. Hellander chops up each themed party into readily managed chunks: invitations; shopping and scheduling; decor and costumes. food and drink; games for all ages. The Hocus Pocus Potion Party highlights eerie elegance, while Tricks and Treats taps into Halloween nostalgia. But aspiring fete-ishists need not have tons of time or an armory of glue guns to get the parties going: there are plenty of quick and simple-to-execute ideas. plus useful tips for impromptu entertaining.

Lori Hellander lives in New York City, but her work as a photo stylist takes her to many places on the map. She is a regular contributor to Counny Living, BonAppetit, and Mary Engelbreits Home Companion, among other national publications, and has made several guest appearances on HGTV's Country Style and the Discovery Channel's Surprise By Design. This is her first book. Bill Milne is a photographer and image maker who has contributed to Gourmet, Wine Spectator, Time, People, and many other publications. His clients range from Kraft Foods, Smirnoff, and Snapple to AT&T, Apple Computers, and Johnson & Johnson.